Desert Healthcare District

01/09/2026

Deja Brown, Scholarship Recip. | Building Healthcare Futures Through Education, Community, & Purpose
In this inspiring episode of the Healthy Desert Healthy You podcast, host Will Dean speaks with Deja Brown, a Desert Healthcare District and Foundation scholarship recipient through One Future Coachella Valley. Deja shares her journey from Illinois to the Coachella Valley, her path through College of the Desert, and her current studies at Sacramento State University. She discusses her goal of becoming a licensed physical therapist, opening clinics in the Valley, and teaching CPR to young athletes. The conversation highlights the importance of education access, workforce development, and community support in addressing local healthcare shortages. Deja also reflects on resilience, nontraditional education pathways, and why giving back to the Coachella Valley is central to her purpose and future career.

Listen to the podcast:

https://www.dhcd.org/Podcast

01/09/2026

Congratulations to our newest Board Director Anyse Smith, elected by the Board to serve as a zone five representative! Smith is a staff attorney with Starting Over Inc.

01/06/2026

The Desert Healthcare District & Foundation will hold a special board meeting this Thursday, January 8th as efforts to fill the Zone 5 board representative vacancy continues. Six candidates will be interviewed at this time. The public is welcome to attend the meeting at 4 P.M in the Jerry Stergios Building (1140 N. Indian Canyon Drive, Palm Springs, CA 92262).

Read more: https://www.dhcd.org/Healthcare-District-Board-to-interview-Director-candidates-on-Jan.-8-at-special-meeting

12/24/2025

Happy holidays & Felices fiestas from the Desert Healthcare District and Foundation Board of Directors and staff!

12/22/2025

Interested in serving on the Desert Healthcare District & Foundation Board of Directors? Applications for the board vacancy for zone 5 will be accepted until January 5, 2026.

For additional information, visit the links below for the application process, requirements, and more.

Visit website: https://dhcd.org/Interested-in-serving-on-the-Desert-Healthcare-District-Foundation-Board-Here-s-what-you-should-know

Factsheet: https://files.constantcontact.com/9ffd0941701/bcf69575-674e-426b-b464-225a1265a80f.pdf?rdr=true

Read the newsletter: https://myemail.constantcontact.com/Healthcare-District-outlines-Board-duties-for-applicants-seeking-to-serve.html?soid=1129921437689&aid=qGpPp9GVFJg

12/20/2025

Thank you Palm Springs Unified School District for the opportunity to provide FREE immunizations at the Desert Winter Land 2025! Wonderful way to close the year! Thank you, Coachella Valley Pharmacy for the great partnership and your dedication to our communities!
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Gracias a Palm Springs Unified School District por la oportunidad de prover inmunizaciones GRATUITAS as en el festejo del Navida del 2025! La mejor manera de cerrar el año! Gracias a, Coachella Valley pharmacy por su cooperación y dedicación a nuestras comunidades! 

12/16/2025

Thirty episodes strong!
"Healthy Desert, Healthy You," the Desert Healthcare District and Foundation's podcast hosted by Will Dean and distributed by Mutual Broadcasting System, is the topic of this month's Living Healthy campaign with KESQ News Channel 3.
Check out the news feature:

A local podcast is taking a closer look at the health issues affecting the Coachella Valley. Healthy Desert, Healthy You, produced by the Desert Healthcare District and Foundation, features local experts. The podcast was launched following the Healthy Desert Healthy Environmental Health Summit back....

12/15/2025

Please join us at 4 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 16, for the final Board meetings of 2025. The Board will consider grant proposals totaling $1.5 million and sponsorship opportunities for five Coachella Valley events. For details, please see the agendas: https://dhcd.diligent.community/Portal/MeetingInformation.aspx?Org=Cal&id=178

Our meetings are open to the public. Attendance is possible virtually and in person. We'll see you there!

12/13/2025

Tonight (Dec.12) the Desert Healthcare District & Foundation team celebrates the holiday season with gratitude for the past year of achievements and excitement for the future. Happy holidays from the in !

12/11/2025

Due to this cancellation, the Desert Healthcare District and Foundation Board will convene at 4 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 16, for its monthly meeting at the Regional Access Project Foundation offices in Palm Desert. It was scheduled earlier this month due to the holidays.



All Board and committee meetings are open to the public. Please see the full calendar of upcoming meetings here.

12/11/2025

PLEASE READ: Our monthly Board meeting comes earlier this month

The Desert Healthcare District and Foundation Board will convene at 4 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 16, for its monthly meeting at the Regional Access Project Foundation offices in Palm Desert. It was scheduled earlier this month due to the holidays.

All Board and committee meetings are open to the public. Please see the agendas here: https://www.dhcd.diligent.community/

12/11/2025

Desert Healthcare District & Foundation Board Directors Carole Rogers, Kimberly Barraza for DHCD, Evett Perezgil and staff attend on Dec. 8 and 9 the 2025 California Hospital Association Behavioral Health Care Symposium in Sacramento.